School in Austria
The Austrians go to school in six years and study 9 years. At first four years they are engaged at elementary school (Volksschule). Upon termination of children choose one of two types of schools: the main – (Hauptschule) where five more years, or average general education in which it is necessary to study eight years study. It is also possible to come to more prestigious gymnasium (Allgemeinbildende Hoehere Schule, AHS/Gymnasium), but it is hard – in the country there are only about 320 gymnasiums where 360 thousand pupils are trained.
Training in Hauptschule is focused on further professional education though the capable pupil is given an opportunity to pass into a gymnasium. Mathematics, the German and foreign languages are learned according to programs of three levels of complexity. Only studying of these top-level disciplines grants the right to continue education in a gymnasium.
Gymnasium (classical and real) – more prestigious type of school which termination grants the right to go to the university. At similarity of curricula training in a gymnasium is more fundamental, a large number of hours is taken away on studying of modern foreign and classic languages. The high standard of knowledge is provided by teachers – graduates of universities. Training at full high comprehensive schools comes to the end with examination on the school-leaving certificate.
Austrian private schools.
As an alternative to public schools private, so-called “free” schools act. Valdorfsky schools at the heart of which pedagogical concept Rudolf Steiner’s doctrine about education of the free personality, development of the creative beginnings and “awakening” of the hidden natural inclinations are rather widely presented. The big part in programs of these schools is assigned to esthetic education of children.
Academic year proceeds from October to June.
University in Austria
The system of the higher education of Austria is divided into three sectors:
universities (Universitaeten) and universities of arts (Universitaeten der Kuenste); colleges (Akademien des nicht-universitaeren Bereich) in which teach teachers and social workers; the higher schools (Fachhochschule). We will begin with the most prestigious and interesting – with universities.
Universities.
All universities in Austria state. They are under authority of the federal Ministry of science and transport. All main universities are financed from the federal budget (the exception makes the university in Kremsa financed by the state only partially). Respectively, training for the Austrian citizens is free.
According to research of the German magazine “Shpigel”, the Austrian higher education institutions hold a steady position in the middle of the list of the European universities. Following the results of survey conducted by the magazine four faculties of three Austrian universities – in Vienna, Salzburg and Graz got to a rating of the best universities of the continent. In Salzburg it is better to study the right, in Vienna – economy, in Graz – technical science. In higher education institutions of Austria about 210 thousand students for whom occupations conduct 18.000 teachers are trained. Nearly a half of all students (96 thousand people) studies at university of Vienna. The Vienna technological university and university of economy is on 22 thousand students. Can also brag of a large number of students Karl-Franz’s University in Graz (Karl-Franzens-Universitaet Graz, 32,5 thousand students) and University of Salzburg (Universitaet Salzburg, 14,6 thousand students). Other higher education institutions much less.
Vienna is really student’s city – more than a half of the Austrian and foreign students is concentrated here. Only at one Vienna university, the largest in the country, about 80 thousand students are trained. Very few people know, but this university is the oldest of nowadays existing in the countries of the German-speaking region. It was based by the duke Rudolf IV in 1365. Impress also dates of foundation of universities in the cities of Graz (year of foundation – 1585), Salzburg (1622), Innsbruck (1669). In the 19th century many Austrian specialized higher education institutions appeared. These are technical universities in Vienna and Graz, a Mining University in Leobena, university of culture of land use, veterinary and economic universities in Vienna. Treat the same group of higher education institutions founded in the 60-70th years university in Linz and pedagogical university in Klagenfurt.
The education system of Austria includes also six art higher education institutions and the Danube university of postdegree education holding a specific place in Kremsa. In it experts in the field of the European right, the international relations in Europe, mass media, economies, managements, ecology and medicine improve skills. This university opened only in 1994 conducts serious applied scientific researches. As for two other sectors, they are less interesting to foreign students. Academies represent professional educational institutions with the three-year term of training: pedagogical academies (Paedagogische Akademien) training teachers of elementary schools, academies on training of social workers, the medico-technical academies which are letting out health care workforce of an average link and technical assistants.
Fachhochschulen is the youngest sector of the Austrian higher school created only at the beginning of the 90th. It is focused on 8-semestrial programs of a vocational education. In their framework graduates of schools are given mainly practical knowledge that allows those to get a job quickly.
Foreign students can almost not arrive on the following specialties:
1. Humanmedizin – medicine
2. Zahnmedizin – stomatology
3. Veterinarmedizin – veterinary science
4. Pharmazie – pharmaceutics
5. Biologie – biology
6. Betriebswirtschaft – economy and the organization of production
7. Publizistik-und Kommunikationswissenschaft – journalism and communications
8. Psychologie – psychology
Postgraduate study.
For receiving the academic degree of the doctor (Doktorat or Dr.) need to study 2-4 more semester in postgraduate study and to prepare scientific work (thesis). After its protection applicants take examinations (Rigorosum) in the problems developed in the thesis.
Training.
Training for students and graduates at the enterprises are quite widespread in Austria. Students can issue the work permit even during study. Annually about 45 thousand companies of the country accept about 130 thousand trainees. Since 1995 many of them come through the European project of cooperation of “Leonardo” within which more than 59 pilot projects were organized already.
Requirements at receipt
For receipt in the Austrian university irrespective of the chosen specialty the following conditions of reception work. It is necessary to have one of the following documents on education:
the school-leaving certificate issued in Austria or other Austrian document granting the right for training in the Austrian higher education institution or the document on the fact that the student studied after the termination of high school, at least three years in one of recognized educational institutions in Austria or abroad (for example, in a specialized higher educational institution (Fachhochschule), or the foreign school-leaving certificate, equivalent to the Austrian Matura (Reifezeugnis). The entrants wishing to begin study on the basis of the certificate issued abroad need to show at receipt on this specialty:
the document confirming for this educational year / semester receipt on this specialty in one of universities of the country where the certificate was issued. Or just the recommendation it is not enough general confirmation of access to higher education. Those students who want to continue the study begun abroad have to present:
confirmation on already passable disciplines (the passed examinations) and the document that they have the right to continue study in the country where the school-leaving certificate, in this educational year / semester was issued
The required knowledge of language
The good knowledge of German is obligatory. To become the student of internal faculty of this or that university, you should pass written and oral examination in language. Conditions for studying of German are created practically at all universities, not to mention numerous language schools.
Necessary documents
For entering a university the student has to file the following documents:
the questionnaire – the application for admission in university, the school-leaving certificate or the document on the termination of specialized higher education institution or the document on the passed examinations in the passable disciplines at university, confirmation that you came on this specialty to one of higher education institutions of that country where the school-leaving certificate, the autobiography was issued (only at receipt in Technical university). All foreign documents have to be shown in the original. The certified translation has to be attached to documents in a foreign language.
Documents in the original or the copy have to be of the country of issue of the document / to the native land have to be certified by competent authorities of this country and are legalized by the Austrian representation in this country.
For the documents issued in one of the below-specified countries assurance by appropriate authority of this country by putting down of an apostille is sufficient: Australia, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Belize, Botswana, Great Britain, Venezuela, Greece, Israel, Spain, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Colombia, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Portugal, Russia, El Salvador and some other)
Cost of training and accommodation
Training cost at the Austrian universities for foreigners approximately 800 euros for a semester (depending on specialty). Residence in Austria manages from 400 to 700 euros a month (payment of housing – 250-300 euros, food – 200 euros, an insurance – 60 euros, pocket expenses and transport – 100 euros).
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